Everyone in Europe is aware that 150 journalists are detained in Turkey and that the majority of them have no idea what the indictments are. All judgments issued to date fundamentally contradict the rights and principles which form the (common) basis of European law.

Additionally, over 25% of all Turkish judges and prosecutors, namely more than 3,000, are also facing pre-trial detention.

First of all, this shocking realitysignifies that a large number of innocent persons are illegally prosecutedand this situation must not be ignored as individuals and the country as a whole will suffer from the adverse effects.

Secondly, the dismissal of 4279 judges and prosecutors (out of a total of approximately 12,000 throughout Turkey) creates huge and damaging losses within the offices of the Turkish judiciary and prosecutors.

The existence of a highly qualified and independent judiciary within a country is one of the corner stones of a democracy under the rule of law.

It is therefore of utmost importance that Europe makes all possible efforts to persuade Turkey to remedy this unacceptable situation and it is without doubt a major concern for both Turkey and Europe.

The Platform for an Independent Judiciary in Turkeyis composed of four major European associations of judges:
1. The Association of European Administrative Judges (AEAJ)
2. The European Association of Judges
3. Judges for Judges
4. The “Magistrats Europeens pour la Democratie et les Libertes” (MEDEL)

Judges for Judges, together with the IBA Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), Lawyers for Lawyers (L4L), The Law Society of England and Wales, the Bar Human Rights Committee of England & Wales (BHRC), Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA) and Lawyers Rights Watch Canada (LRWC) wrote a joint statement to highlight the ongoing challenges faced by the legal profession in Turkey.

The joint statement was addressed to the UN Special Rapporteuron Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. It was read before the Special Rapporteur on 2nd March 2018 during a side event at the Palais des Nations in Geneva and widely circulated at the Human Rights Council.

In the joint statement, organisations raise concerns over the widespread use of torture and other ill-treatment in the aftermath of the attempted coup in Turkey, the lack of effective investigations, and the on-going reports of torture. Organisations also share their concern over the widespread and systematic arbitrary arrest and detention of judges and lawyers in Turkey.

“The exhaustion rule may be described as one that is golden rather than cast in stone.” § 64 of the ECHR Practical guide on admissibility criteria.

Here’s a moment I won’t forget any time soon: on 16 July 2016 – the day after the failed coup d’etat in Turkey – while attending a Beyoncé concert in the Arena Stadium, I received an e-mail message from a Turkish colleague:

“I also will be dismissed and detained. I don’t know how to explain. I just have done my job and criticize the government regarding judicial developments that you already know very well. We may not see each other again. Thank you for your support up to now. We will not have any communication opportunity.”

The assessment of the status of the justice system in Turkey clearly proves that the independence of the judiciary is abolished. The Platform for an Independent Judiciary in Turkeyrefers to its previous declarations and to the attached summary on the developments and their results. It is urgent to return to the rule of law and to bring back to the Turkish people the fundamental rights of which they had been deprived.

The Platform urges

I.) the Turkish authorities
• to end the pressure which is directly exercised on Turkish judges and prosecutors, who are in charge of the procedures subsequent to the terrible attempt of the coup d´etat, and indirectly by influencing the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors;
• to reestablish the procedural rules, which are necessary to guarantee a fair procedure;
• to make the observation of the court hearings by international observers possible;
• to guarantee that the European Prison Rules (CM Rec(2006)2) are obeyed in all detention centres and to hold accountable those who have violated them;
• release the unduly detained judges and prosecutors and to return the unduly seized assets of these persons;
• to annul the dissolution of the only independent judges association: YARSAV;

II.) the Council of Europe and the European Union
• to convince the Turkish authorities to fulfill the above mentioned requirements, which are based on common European values;
• to carefully follow the developments regarding the Turkish justice system;
• to establish mechanism and support initiatives which make international trial-observation missions possible.

Edith Zeller m.p.
President of the Association of European Administrative Judges (AEAJ)

José Igreja Matos m.p.
President of the European Association of Judges (EAJ)

On 7th of November 2016 the Turkish newspaper Sabah wrote that the European Association of Judges and named European national judges associations and individual European judges were supporting terrorists.

Nothing could be further away from the truth: The European Association of Judges and its national member associations have condemned the failed coup right after it occurred and continued to do so. A military coup can never be acceptable in a democratic society and in a state under the rule of law. Those responsible for the coup must be brought to justice.

The « Platform for an independent Judiciary in Turkey » composed of all four European judges associations invites the members of the international press to a press conference on:

The situation of the Turkish justice system before and after the coup d’etat
How to restore the rule of law in Turkey?

This press conference will take

on 11th October 2016 at 14:00in the Palais de Justice of BrusselsPlace Poelaert1000 Brussels – BELGIUM

Edith Zeller, President of the European Association of Administrative JudgesChristophe Régnard, President of the European Association of Judges (EAJ)Tamara Trotman, President of Judges for JudgesGualtiero Michelini, President of Magistrats Européens pour la Démocratie et les Libertés (MEDEL)

The High Council of Judges and Prosecutors of Turkey (HSYK) is currently dealing with the removal and dismissal of 3.500 judges and prosecutors who are suspended and under criminal investigation. A majority of this group is presently detained.

The Platform for an Independent Judiciary sent out a letter to the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors of Turkey urging the Council to apply and to observe the relevant international and European standards on judicial independence when it decides on the question of dismissal on the judges.

After all any sanctions taken without first properly investigating and evidencing allegations of wrong doing of each concerned judge are not in line with these standards.